Flexible metallic vehicle-wheel.



PATENTED, MAY l2, 1908.

lNo. 887,567.

G. AUBERLIN.

ALLIO VEHICLE WHEEL.

. APPLICATION FIL FLEXIBLE MBT En APR. 4, 1907.

. INVENTOR la 52252/ @Ze/2272;

By l I 1` 0 j@ ATTQRN WITNESSES:

UNrrED ,STATES Parana oracion.

GUSTAYABERLIN, OF THE UNITED STATES NAV Y.

FLEXIBLE METALLIC VEHICLE-WHEEL.

No. sev-,567.

v especialltof automobiles and like wheels.

Its-object is to rovide a flexible or elastic ve- 'hiclefwheel which will do away with the expense and trouble of pneumatic tires` The invention consists of the parts-and the ...15' Copstruction` andv combination oi parts as i hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawin s, inwhich-v,

' igure 1 is a portion of a wheel having a 2o spoke-in section illustrating my improvements. Fig. 2.is a detail sectional view across I the tire and portion of a spoke.

I the air tight kchamber 2. 25

i AV represents'a hollow steel hub inclosing 3 represents hollow, rigid spoke-sections having their inner ends secured in the hub and beingsuitably supported and braced at their ou terends b the annulus 4.

5 is a bolt suite ly anchored in the hub and extending u into the hollow spoke 3 and through the inner end of the hollow piston or telescoping spoke section, which latter is l adapted to have a smooth sliding fit with the interior ofthe-fixed. spokesection 3. The bolt 5 is provided with a head 7 inside of the section 6, and this head forms a seat for one end-of the s iral expansion spring 8. The other end o the sprin abuts against the head 9 -of a stem 10 Whic 'is screwed into the ex anded cot-piece 11 securedto the outer en ofthe ollo'w.' sliding section 6.

The parts 3--6- constitutes,` telescoping sectionall spoke, and the function of the spring 8 is to hold these sections in'normal extended position; the outward movement of the sectlon (i inside of section 3 being limited b means of the flange 12 on the innen p. end o the` section 6 coming in contact with the underside 'of the head-7. The strength 'and tension ofthe spring 8 are" pro ortioned to the load to be supported by the wheel. This spring 8 maybe supplemented in exerting outward thrust on t e head 11, either by neumatic pressure stored in the hub chamer '2 or by means of the spring 13 housed in the hub and spoke, and having one end sup- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 4, 190|.

yinvention relates to-'vehicle Wheels and` Patented May 12, 1908.

serial No. 366,292.

ported a,gainst'"'tlre hub and the other end against the end 12' ofthe spoke section 5.

In order to prevent undue shock and wear and in order to render the operation of the parts noiseless, l may lill the section 6 with i bil, glycerin, or other suitable liquid. The

.head 9 of the stem 10 divides the interioreof section 6 into two compartments 14--15, and in order to allow the contained liquid to )ass freely fom one com artment to the otlher, the head 9 4is rovide with the ports 16; also the walls of t e telescoping sectlon 6 are provided with tapered grooves 17 to allow the assage of the liquid from compartment 15 1n behind the head 7 whenever the spring 8 Viscornpressed. A tight joint behind the head 7 is provided by the cup leathers 7'. These grooves have their greatest width at their commencement nearest the hub and gradually narrow down to a point farthest from the hub, thereby decreasing the amount of oil passing through the grooves as the compression increases and makin it possible for a quick return of the telescoping section to initial position when the compressive force is removed. This contained oil acts as a shock absorber.

Asoft rubber collar 18 is adapted to be snapped over suitabley rounded shoulders .on

the foot-piece 11 and the adjacent fixed por-I tion of the wheel for the purpose of excluding the dirt and moisture from between thel parts 6 3.

The foot-pieces 11 are suitably grr'ioved to receive two sets of galvanized steel wire cables 19-20 which compose my wheel rini. These cables 19 and 20 are laid one on top oi' the other, and their 'size and number, and the width of the thread provided by them, all depend on the requirements of the wheel and the uses to which it is to be put. Preferably the outer set of cables 20 are largeLthan the inner set as shown. interposed between these two sets of cables and between the several spokes is a grooved rigid distance piece 21 flanked on either side by the grooved elastic rubber blocks 22. '.lhe arrangement of these distance pieces and the cables such that a truss construction of rim is produced wherein the inner cables 1) are inwardly arched between the spokes to support the pieces 21, and the outer cables Z0 are caused t'o lie normally in a true circle; also sur-h tendency as there may be for the outer cables to sag when assing over unevenesses in, the roadway, wil be overcome and the load will Q sense? be distributed to the adjacent spokes without detriment to the eliciency of the wheel. At the same time this rim is sufficiently elastic to adapt itself to the inward movement ci the spokes when under compression.

lf it is desired to protect the outer cables which come in contact with the roadway and to render the car more noiseless, orator any other reasons, l may stretch a solid rubber` tire as 23 over the cables 5 this rubber tire being suitably grooved on its inner side to receive the cables.'

vAs proteption against skidding and also asA a means for holding the tires 23 andcables in place, l may employ the metal clips'24 which are arranged at suitable intervals around the circumference of the wheel and adapted to embrace the cables and tire, and may be secured either to the distance-pieces 21 or to the footpieces 11. These clips 2l are furnished with suitable heads or lugs 25 which engage the roadway and prevent slipping.

lt will bemanitest that various changes ma j be made in the details of construction herein described without departing from the principle of the invention. Having thus described my invention,'what l claim and `desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. Avehicle-wheel comprising a hub, yielding spokes, and a rim composed of an inner and outer series of liexible cables and means for spacing them apart.

2. A. vehicle-wheel comprising a hub, yielding spokes and a rim, the latter composed of flexible cables, said cables arranged in inner and outer series with distance-pieces between the series and between the spokes, and a rubber-tire-section surroundingA the outer set of cables and interposed between thelatter and the roadway.'

3. Avehicle-wheel comprising a hub, 'ielding s okes and a rim, the latter composed of iiexi le cables, said cables arranged in inner and cuter series with distance-pieces between the series and between the spolres, clips provided with lugs surroundin the cables, and suitable supports for the dips.

i.ln'a' Yi/ehicle-wheel, the combination with the hub and rim, of a hollow rigid spoke f'sectionse'cured to-the hub, a hollow section telescoping with said rigid section, a bolt secured to the huband extending up into the sections, a stem secured to the outer end of Athetelescoping section, elastic means inter# posed between the stem and said bolt to push the telescoping section normally out` ward, and means to limit said outward move ment,

5. In a vehicle-wheel, the combination with the hub and rim, of a hollow rigid spoke section secured to the hub, a hollow section telescoping with said rigid section, a bolt secured to the hub andextending up into the sections, a stern secured to the outer end of the telescoping section, elastic means interposed between the stem and'said bolt to push the 'telescoping "section normally outward, said bolt having a headwithin the telescoping section, ports connecting the spaces on the two sides of the head of said bolt, and a liquid contained in the telescoping section.

and Howable through said ports on the inward and outward movement of the telescoping section.

. lin a vehicle-wheel, the combination with the hub and rim, of a hollow rigid spoke section secured to the hub, a hollow section telescoping with said' rigid section, a bolt secured to the' hub and extending up intovthe sections, a stem secured to the outer end of thetelescoping section, elastic means interposed between the stem and said bolt to push the telescoping section normally outward, means to limit said outward movement, and other elastic means acting against the hub and against the inner end of the telescoping' section to push the latter outward.

7. ln a vehicle-rim, the combination with the hub and rim, 'of a hollow rigid spoke section secured to the hub, 4a hollow section telescoping with said rigid section, a bolt secured to the hub and. extending upinto the sections, a stem secured to the outer end of the telescoping section, elastic means interposed between the stem and said bolt to push the telescoping section normally outward,

means to limit said outward movement, a footpiece carried bythe telescoping section and supporting the rim, and a flexible collar interposed between the footpiece and fixed section.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand in presence oi two subscribing witnesses.

AUBERLN.

lllitnesses S. H. Nonnen, Flashemoi; l'iarrninn. 

